The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25
TIE GOSPEL.

There are four Gospels good news. The
authorship of two is accredited to apostles
and companions of JESUS Matthew and
john whose life and ministry they record;
one to Mark, disciple ('son,' Peter v.
13), and companion of Peter, who may have
recorded the gospel story proclaimed in the
ministry of that Apostle; and one to Luke
who was the companion of the Apostle Paul,
and probably, disciple and kinsman, who
wrote what was the substance of Paul's
preaching. The title is obtained from the
message of the angel that announced the
birth of JESUS: "Behold, bring you good
tidings"-gospel duke ii. 10). The story of
the life and ministry, the death and resur
rection of JESUS is the "good news of GoD
which He promised through His prophets in
the Holy Scriptures" (the Old Testament)
(Romans i. u. The story as recorded by
the several Eyangeists differs in accordance
with the different qualification and purpose
of each writer. No one furnishes connect
ed story or complete biography of JESUS; nor
is it probable that all have recorded the
whole of that divinely wonderful life and
ministry. The first three gospels are similar
in their form end the nature of their contents,
and are called synoptic from the fact of the
similarity of their method and contents, so
that more or less complete synopsis of the
life of JESUS may be compiled from them.
The Synoptics record especially our Lords
life; John describes more fully his character
and teachings, and records incidents in bis
life not contained in the others. He wrote
last and may have been familiar with their
contents. The characteristics of the four
gospels may be described as follows: the first
is Jewish and Oriental; the second, GENTLE
and Roman; the third, universal and Gre
clan; the fourth, Christian and spiritual.
Matthew wrote to convince the Jews that
JESUS was the Messiah of their Scriptures;
Mark recorded the gospel which Peter
preached to Gentiles Luke wrote the gospel
which Paul, who knew neither Jew nor Gen.
tiles, preached as worthy of acceptation by
all mankind; John wrote that Christians
themselves might believe that JESUS the
CHRIST was the Son of GoD, and that believ-
ing they might have eternal (spirituaD life.
The Gospel According to Matthew" was
the first written of the gospels, (about the
middle of the first century, and is the fullest
and most orderly account of the life and
ministry of our Lord. i. is supposed to have
been written first in Hebrew, afterward in
Greek.
Matthew-Theodore GIFT of GoD), also
called Levi MARK ii. IA; Luke v. 81, was
tax-collector publican, x. 81 before becom-
ing a disciple of JESUS. The publieans,
many of whom were wicked extortioners,
were despised by the jews, who felt them
selves oppressed by the Roman taxes. Mat
thew, on becoming disciple of JESUS, made
feast in honor of his Master to which he
invited his former companions in Office, and
which was the occasion of the charge of the
Pharisees that JESUS associated and caroused
with publicans and sinners Gx. ii; xi. 1877.
OF his life subsequent to his apostolic call
luke vi. 13) we know nothing, except that
his gospel indicates that he was the compan-
ion of JESUS in all his ministry.